ELECTION 2023: Five of the six Seattle City Council District 1 candidates who didn’t make the cut endorse one of the two who did

5:48 PM: Tomorrow, King County Elections certifies results of the August 1st primary. The two candidates advancing to the November 7th general in the Seattle City Council District 1 race will be Maren Costa and Rob Saka. Just out of the WSB inbox, five of the six candidates who aren’t advancing have sent an “open letter” saying they all are endorsing Costa:

An Open Letter to Seattle’s District One Residents,

We, the undersigned, Seattle City Council District One candidates, proud residents of West Seattle, passionate believers in the future of our great city, hereby endorse our one-time opponent Maren Costa to be the next Seattle City Council member representing District One.

We endorse Maren for the same reason we sought the office; we love Seattle and we want to see it thrive.

Over these intense past five months of campaigning, Maren has shown herself to be a serious, caring, quick study. Her growth on the campaign trail was evident to all of us. She found her voice in the truest sense. She learned how to be real in public, and we can attest, that is no small feat. At every forum, debate or community event, Maren was there – showing up with authenticity, humor and self-effacing charm. What you see is what you get; no “consultancy speak” – just Maren.

She has experience fighting for justice and a better world. She has management skills and a healthy dollop of guile gleaned in the cutthroat grind of high tech. She has the persistence and patience of a parent and a partner.

This group endorsement is more notable because some of us have non-trivial policy differences with Maren on some of the issues that dominated this campaign season. But, in spite of those differences, we believe Maren’s openness, transparency and candor make her more likely than her general election opponent to be a successful collaborator on the Seattle City Council.

Onward,

Phillip Tavel
Administrative Law Judge

Preston Anderson
LICSW, MPA

Stephen Brown
President, Eltana Bagels

Lucy Barefoot
Outreach Specialist, Office of the Secretary of State of Washington

Mia Jacobson
Longshoreman

We received the letter from Tavel, who says he is the group’s spokesperson (and we’re asking him a few followup questions). The only primary candidate not on the list is Jean Iannelli Craciun.

8:46 PM: First a note – we’ve corrected Tavel’s profession and first-name spelling, which were erroneous in what was originally sent to us. Meantime, we asked Tavel for a little more on how the group endorsement came about; he said he, Anderson, and Brown were talking post-election and agreed that they felt “District 1 would be in considerably better hands with Maren”; they invited the others to join them, including Craciun, who did not sign the letter, Tavel says, because “she had already endorsed Maren and… was the first to do so.” (Costa also says Craciun had previously endorsed her.) Meantime, Saka’s campaign has sent a news release reacting to the group endorsement, saying he “expressed his deep shock and dismay with the decision of his former opponents to endorse Costa, a move he believes contradicts the spirit of change and progress that their campaigns initially advocated for” and quoting him as calling the group endorsement a “political stunt.” … (added) Costa, meantime, told us when we asked for comment on the group endorsement, “I was quite surprised and thankful for my fellow candidates’ support. We all got to know each other quite well on the campaign trail. Good group.”

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About the dark smoke visible from downtown

August 14, 2023 5:10 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | West Seattle news

5:10 PM: A texter sent that photo as several other readers were asking if we knew anything about that dark smoke from downtown. It’s a fire response logged to Fairview and Mercer, in the South Lake Union area, just re-coded on the 911 log to “encampment fire.” Firefighters are still working to extinguish it, according to radio exchanges.

6:06 PM: SFD says the fire is under control and that no one was hurt.

ADDED TUESDAY: Regional media has long since picked up on this – our initial basic item was published because they were slow on the uptake and we were getting lots of questions. But for the record, here’s the SPD report summary posted today:

At 1654 hours, officers responded to assist SFD with a fire that occurred in an encampment located near Minor Ave N / Mercer St. The encampment was in a vacant lot near an apartment building. SFD put the fire out before it could damage the apartment building. No one was in the encampment during the fire and the only losses were tent structures and personal property inside the encampment and plant life. Witnesses described a suspect who may have started the fire. Officers located that suspect in the area. The suspect provided information indicating that he lived in the encampment and accidentally started the fire. The suspect was taken into custody for Reckless Burning 1st degree.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen white F-350

August 14, 2023 3:33 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Sent by Susan:

Was stolen overnight in Gatewood. Ford F-350 white King Ranch special Edition truck. W (University of Washington) sticker on back canopy window and also on trailer hitch. License plate B67087N, SPD incident # 23-232975.

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Coming soon to the West Seattle Bridge: Bus-lane enforcement camera

August 14, 2023 2:02 pm

| 70 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

Just announced by SDOT: The city is adding three new traffic-enforcement cameras, and one of them will be for bus-lane violations on the West Seattle Bridge (the other two will be downtown block-the-box cameras). From the announcement:

… The new cameras will allow the city to collect a larger data set for a more robust analysis of the impact and effectiveness of these types of automated enforcement programs. The city expects to install the cameras at the three identified locations at the beginning of September. There will be a 30-day warning period to ensure the public has adequate notice to learn the rules of the road. … The locations were selected due to the large volume of pedestrians present combined with a high rate of observed violations by drivers.

This is part of a “pilot program” resulting from legislative authorization of more uses for automated enforcement cameras. Separate from the one-month grace period, the city says, first-time violators will get a warning letter, and $75 tickets after that. Where does the money go? The announcement notes:

Under state law, half of the net revenue from the traffic cameras will go to a Washington Traffic Safety Commission fund for bicycle and pedestrian safety projects, and the other half of the net revenue must be used to build safety and mobility improvements for people with disabilities in Seattle. SDOT plans to invest this in building more accessible walk signals which vibrate and make a noise to let people with limited vision or hearing know when it is safe to cross the street.

As with other automated enforcement cameras – like school-zone speeding and red-light running – the announcement notes, “To protect privacy, the cameras will only record vehicle license plates and not the people inside the car. The photos are only intended to be used for enforcing the bus lane and blocking the box laws, and are not intended for other law enforcement action.”

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FOLLOWUP: About today’s port-truck backup

August 14, 2023 1:18 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Port of Seattle | West Seattle news

(Screengrab from SDOT traffic camera just after 11 am)

As mentioned in our morning traffic roundup, port-bound trucks have been backed up on the westbound side of the Spokane Street Viaduct for hours. Last time this happened, two weeks ago, the Northwest Seaport Alliance – the Seattle/Tacoma port partnership – cited a “technical issue” at Terminal 5. Today, NWSA spokesperson Kate Nolan tells WSB, “Both Terminal 5 and Terminal 30 are closed (to)day, which has redirected a portion of the associated truck traffic to Terminal 18. They have confirmed to our operations team that they are implementing several measures to process this truck volume as quickly as possible today.” (T-18 is on Harbor Island; T-30 is toward the south end of the downtown waterfront.)

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Here’s what’s happening for the rest of your West Seattle Monday

August 14, 2023 12:26 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news

(This morning’s sunrise, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

The weather has shuffled our routine today so this list is later than usual, but might still be of value, so here are the calendar highlights – note that we can’t verify which indoor venues do and don’t have A/C, so check directly before you go:

GLASS FLOAT HUNT CONTINUES: As of early this morning, 19 floats were still waiting to be found. Plus, organizers tell us:

Merchants are holding their own events for people who haven’t been able to find one:

CAPERS Home is doing drawings next Sunday and on the 20th at 2pm and the way to register is by signing up on their mailing list.

Fleurt is auctioning off 2 and the proceeds will go to the Maui Humane Society.

Current Coffee is holding a drawing and the way to enter is by making a purchase in-store.

SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS: Here’s the list of local sites where free food is available for kids on weekdays this summer, 11:30 am-1 pm lunch, 2-3 pm snacks.

WADING POOLS OPEN: Noon-7 pm. Today’s scheduled pools in West Seattle: EC Hughes (2805 SW Holden) and Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW).

COLMAN POOL OPEN: This outdoor salt-water pool at Lincoln Park is open noon-7 pm daily through Labor Day. See the session schedule here.

COMMUNITY PADDLE: Monday nights all summer long, get out on the water with Alki Kayak Tours, 6 pm. (1660 Harbor SW).

CRAFTING AND CREATIVITY NIGHT: 6-10 pm at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.

D&D: Open D&D starts at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), all welcome, first-time players too. $5.

INTRODUCTION TO MEDITATION: Monthly event, all welcome, doors open 6:45 pm at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds).

FAUNTLEROY MEDITATION: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation event at the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.

OPEN MIC: Weekly BedHead Open Mic continues at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (4201 SW Juneau), 7 pm (signups at 6:30) – info in our calendar listing.

PLAY TRIVIA! Here are three Monday night options for trivia – 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW); 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7:30 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)

MONDAY MUSIC: Live music with The Westside Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.

Have a West Seattle/White Center event to add to our calendar ? Please send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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FOLLOWUP: Alki Elementary demolition resumes

August 14, 2023 11:56 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks for the tip. Demolition has resumed at Alki Elementary, four days after a city hearing examiner’s ruling granting an appeal of the zoning exception needed to build the new school without off-street parking. A week and a half ago, Charter Construction crews had demolished the old portable on the north side of the school and installed an office trailer; Seattle Public Schools had told us at the time that the permits were being granted in phases, so some grading and shoring work also would be done on the site regardless of the appeal process. So far, the district’s comment on the appeal decision has been only that they were “reviewing” it. Alki classes are currently planned to be held in the former Schmitz Park Elementary for the next two years while the new expanded, levy-funded building is constructed.

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Low-bridge closure alert signs ‘a mistake’

August 14, 2023 10:05 am

| Comments Off on Low-bridge closure alert signs ‘a mistake’

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

As noted in the morning traffic roundup, we’ve been trying since Sunday afternoon to find out why at least two SDOT message boards in West Seattle announced a multi-day low-bridge closure that wasn’t – so far – happening. This morning, we finally heard back from SDOT spokesperson Mariam Ali: “This is a mistake. We postponed a planned closure until October.” (Thanks to everyone who let us know about the signs so we could investigate.)

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Memorial service planned August 25 for Mary Marlene Flanary, 1932-2021

August 14, 2023 9:00 am

| Comments Off on Memorial service planned August 25 for Mary Marlene Flanary, 1932-2021

| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends will gather August 25 to remember Mary Marlene Flanary. Here’s the remembrance that’s being shared now with the community:

Mary Marlene Flanary, daughter of Frank Griffin and Catherine Brady Neville, was born on 12/30/1932 in Deadwood, South Dakota, and passed on 12/18/2021 in Hot Springs, Montana.

She was preceded in death by her son Donald Schoenberg, husband and father of her children Jerome Schoenberg, and husband Robert Flanary. She is survived by daughters Suzette Perna, Rosalind Schoenberg, and Melanie Money. She leaves behind six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Marlene had two notable passions: music and family. An accomplished pianist and lifelong learner, she took up the study of the harpsichord at age 80.

Marlene surrounded herself with her larger-than-life extended family hosting frequent holiday dinners. All were welcome in her home on Queen Anne Hill and later in her home on Beach Drive in West Seattle.

Her early education in parochial schools in Butte, Montana, was followed by a high-school education in San Francisco, then Seattle. She achieved a Bachelor of Arts from Seattle University and a masters in speech and hearing therapy from the University of Washington.

A service will be held at 10:00 AM on August 25th at Holy Rosary in West Seattle. For those who would like to pray the Rosary, it will begin at 9:30 AM. There will be a gathering at 11:00 following the service. Her family welcomes you.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Heat-wave Monday, including port-truck backup

August 14, 2023 6:01 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

11:14 AM: The port-truck backup mentioned by commenters earlier is still affecting the westbound bridge all the way back to I-5, so if you have to head this way from off-peninsula, try another option. We’re checking on what’s happening this time.

Earlier:

6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, August 14th.

WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

The National Weather Service‘s heat alert is in effect. Today’s forecast: Sunny with afternoon haze, high in the mid-80s. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:04 am; sunset will be at 8:23 pm.

TRANSIT TODAY

Metro – regular schedule – check here for advisories.

Water Taxi – regular schedule.

Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service. Check Vessel Watch to see where the boats are.

LOW BRIDGE

You might have seen the SDOT messageboards announcing a low-bridge closure starting yesterday and lasting all week. No such closure was announced by SDOT, and the bridge was open yesterday, plus it appears to be open this morning. No one at SDOT got back to us yesterday to explain the signs so we’re hoping to reach them this morning. Meantime, here’s the low-bridge cam:

OTHER SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also up at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.

High Bridge – the main camera:

High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):

1st Ave. S. Bridge – alternate route across the river:

Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander.

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.

If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities). Thank you!

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